Taler, noodmunt op naam van Kristóf Báthory (1576-1581), geslagen tijdens de oorlog tegen de Turken in Transsylvanië 1580

This Taler, emergency coinage from Transylvania during the war against the Turks, was struck anonymously between 1576 and 1581. Note the coin's circular form, a shape that inherently suggests completion and continuity. On one side, the intricate heraldic shield is sharply contrasted against the plain backdrop. The lines and textures within the shield create a dense, almost baroque effect. Consider the semiotic value of this emblem: the shield represents defense and nobility, yet the circumstances of its minting—amidst war—suggest a disruption of these values. The markings of wear and age disrupt the coin's original design, giving the coin a patina. The other side is strikingly bare, its surface smooth and unbroken. This asymmetry emphasizes the coin's dual existence as both a symbol of power and a practical object of exchange. The contrast between the ornate and the austere prompts us to question fixed meanings and explore how material objects reflect shifting cultural and historical landscapes.